OBJECTIVE To determine if children born prematurely exhibit atypical responses to normally occurring sensory stimuli, as measured by the Sensory Profile. STUDY DESIGN This is a cross-sectional study of children born at ≤32 weeks gestation, followed at 1 to 8 years of age. The Sensory Profile questionnaire was completed by each child’s primary caregiver. The overall Sensory Profile was considered atypical if any quadrant or section score was >2 s.d. from the mean of the Sensory Profile validation group. Bivariate analyses were performed to determine associations between risk factors for adverse neurodevelopment and overall atypical Sensory Profiles. A section or quadrant was considered atypical if its score was >2 s.d. from the mean. A test of proportions was used to compute observed versus expected scores for each section and quadrant (Sensory Profile scores were based on a normal distribution so one would expect approximately 95% of participants to score within 2 s.d. of the mean). RESULT Of our 107 participants, 39% had an atypical score in at least one section or quadrant. No specific perinatal or neonatal risk factors were associated with atypical overall Sensory Profiles (P≥0.05 for all). Children born prematurely were at risk of having atypical scores in the auditory, tactile and vestibular processing sections, and in the four Sensory Profile quadrants (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Children born prematurely exhibit atypical sensory behaviors on the Sensory Profile. Further investigation to understand the underlying neural mechanisms and to develop effective interventions are critical to support neurodevelopment for these children.
Objective To examine whether a change in the approach to management of persistent patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), from “early ligation” to “selective ligation,” is associated with an increased risk of abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome. Study design In 2005, we changed our PDA treatment protocol (in infants ≤27 6/7 weeks gestation) from an “early ligation” approach, with PDA ligation quickly if they failed to close after indomethacin (Period 1: 1/99–12/04), to a “selective ligation” approach, with PDA ligation only if specific criteria were met (Period 2: 1/05–5/09). All infants in both periods received prophylactic indomethacin. Multivariate analysis was used to compare the odds of a composite Abnormal Neurodevelopmental Outcome (Bayley MDI or Cognitive score <70, cerebral palsy, blindness, and/or deafness) associated with each treatment approach at 18–36 months (n=224). Results During Period 1, 23% of the infants in follow-up failed indomethacin treatment, and all were ligated; during Period 2, 30% of infants failed indomethacin, and 66% were ligated after meeting pre-specified criteria. Infants treated with the “selective ligation” strategy had fewer Abnormal Outcomes than infants treated with the “early ligation” approach (OR=0.07, p=0.046). Infants ligated before 10 days of age had an increased incidence of Abnormal Neurodevelopmental Outcome. The significant difference in outcomes between the two PDA treatment strategies could be accounted for, in part, by the earlier age of ligation during Period 1. Conclusions A “selective ligation” approach for PDAs that fail to close with indomethacin does not worsen neurodevelopmental outcome at 18–36 months.
Aim Our aim was to characterize the sensory processing outcome following neonatal arterial ischemic stroke (NAIS) and identify neuroanatomical correlates of abnormal sensory processing. Method We evaluated children with NAIS longitudinally at 12 months, 18 months, and/or 30 months in areas of cognitive, motor, and language development. We gathered sensory processing data using the Sensory Profile‐2 Caregiver Questionnaire. These data were analyzed against early magnetic resonance imaging using a voxel‐based approach. Results Eighteen children (10 males, 8 females) with NAIS were evaluated longitudinally, of which six exhibited atypical sensory processing. Children with sensory processing deficits had lower overall developmental scores in motor, cognitive, and language domains. Neuroanatomical correlates were identified in the posterior periventricular white matter extending superiorly into the supramarginal gyrus, and inferiorly into the fusiform and inferior temporal gyri. Interpretation Our results provide new evidence that children with NAIS may experience difficulty processing sensory information, which is most likely associated with injuries in the posterior periventricular white matter, supramarginal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and posterior thalamic radiation. What this paper adds Atypical sensory processing is common in children with neonatal arterial ischemic stroke (NAIS). NAIS territories in sensory areas were correlated with atypical sensory processing behaviors. Children with NAIS may benefit from early interventions targeted toward sensory processing. Future research mapping NAIS injuries using early magnetic resonance imaging may predict long‐term outcomes.
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